Sewing mechanism



Feb. 5, 1935. B. F. Evl-:RITT

SEWING MECHANISM Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1931 ATTORN EYS Feb. 5,1935.

B. F. EVERITT n SEWINGfMEGHANIsM Filed Jan. 5, 1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 2MMMWMM ATTORN EYJ' Feb. 5, 1935. y B F, EVERITT 1,989,919

` SEWING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, ,-1931 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY:

Feb- 5, 1935- B. F. EvERlT-r 1,989,919l

SEWING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 92 78 2 82 y (Vf-7INVENT Feb. 5, 1935. B. F. Evl-:RITT

SEWING MECHANISM 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. 5, 1951 Feb. 5, 1935. B,F. EVE'RITT 1,989,919

l SEWING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5, 1951 9 sheets-sheet 8 IWI/)777)ATTORNEYS Feb. 5, 1935. B. F. l-:vERlT-r SEWING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 5,1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 1935 UNITED stares SEWINGMECHANISM Byron Everitt, Detroit,

Mich., assigner, ,by

mesne assignments, yto Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application January 5, 16 Claims.v

This invention vrelates to a sewing mechanism and method, and moreparticularly to a. method of and apparatus for manufacturing upholsteryfor seat cushions and the like. vStructurally, the invention hasparticular referenceA to an im? proved. sewing mechanism employing apair of threaded thrusting and retracting needles and a doublereciprocating looper.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a sewingmechanism in which the needles have av differential movement duringtheir thrusting and retracting kmovement so as to decrease the incrementof time during which the needle is engaged with the seam ridge.'Cooperating with the needlesoi the sewing mecha nism is adoublereciprocatinglooper having por tions which takerthe loop .from eachneedle and preserve or hold the loop for engagement by-the other needleupon its thrusting movement.

As in the companion cases previously ymentioned, the instant inventionycontemplates stitches extending from the exterior of thetubes or tubularupholstery into the -interior ofthe tubes where the stitches arecompleted. To this end the thrusting and retracting needles arefarrangedexteriorly of the tubes and are thrust through the seamridges intotheinterior of the tubes where theflooper works, the looper coop eratingtherewith to complete the stitches inside the tube. .i

The several objects, advantages and novel de-y tails of constructionoithis invention together with-the manner in which the method ispracticedwill be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially whenoonsidered'inico'n.- nection with the `accompanying drawings, wherein .YY

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevational View of a sewing apparatusconstructed rin accordance with this invention; y f

Figure 2 is an enlargedvfragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional viewshowing the means for presenting the iinish and lining fabricszto thesewing mechanism together with the Vposition and location of the sewingmechanism with respect thereto;

' Figure 3` is a detail horizontal fragmentary sectional view takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 in Figure 2 looking inthe direction of the arrows; Y

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional viewtakensubstantially on the plan indicated by line 4--4 in Figure 3; n

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional elevational View of one of the sewingheads;

1931', serial No. '506,791

Figure' is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational View. 'takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 6-6 in Figure 2 showing therelation of one .of the needles of the sewing head to the seam ridge; I

Figure 7 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially onthe planeindicated byline 7--7 in Figure 5 looking'inthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is La vfragmentary vertical sectional view through one of thesewing heads taken substantially on the plane indicatedby line 8-8 inFigure Y9; l

Figure 9 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicatedby line 9 9 inAFigure 8;`

Figure 10 'is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectionalview takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 10A-10 in Figure 1;

' Figure 11 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially on the-plane indicated by line 11-11 inzFigure 10;

Fig-ure 12 is ahorizontal sectional elevational view taken substantiallyVon theY plane indicated by line 12.--12 in Figure 117V;

Figure 13-isa detailseotional elevational view taken substantially onthe plane indicated by line 13-'l13 in FigureA 12;` k g Figure 14 is anenlarged top plan view of the looper.; f c

. Figure 15 is an enlarged side elevational view of the looper; Y

Figure 16 is a sectional View.v taken substantially onthe' planeindicated by line 16-16 in Figure 15; f

aY sectional view taken substan" tially on the planek indicatediby line1'7-17 in Figure 15; n .l

Figures 18a and 18h are semi-diagrammatic elevational views respectively.of the two sewing heads of the sewing mechanism as seen respec tivelyon theA lines 18a-18a and 18h-18h looking in the direction of the arrowsin Figures 19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively;

Figure y19 is a semi-diagrammatic sectional elevational view showing therelative positions of theneedles and looperas they are shown in heavyblack lines in Figures 18a and 18h;

, Figure 20 isa similar view showing the needles and looper in the lightline positions illustrated in Figures 18a and 18h; y v

Figure 21 is a similar viewshowing the positions of the needles andlooper in the heavy dot and dash line positions shown inFigures 18a and18h;

Figure 22 is a similar View showing the positions of. the needles andlooper in the light dot and dash line positions shown in Figures 18a and18h;

Figures 23 to 30 inclusive are semi-diagrammatic views illustrating thesewing operations;

Figure 31 is a View showing the completed stitch as it appears on oneside of the seam ridge;

Figure 32 is a similar view showing the stitch as it appears on thereverse side of the seam ridge;

Figure 33 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the manner in which thefinish and lining fabrics are presented to the sewing mechanism, and

Figure 34 is a diagrammatic View of the completed upholstery with thelining fabric stretched taut.

Referring now particularly to the drawings and more especially toFigures 33 and 34, the generall problem involved herein will beexplained. In these figures the reference character F indicates the nishfabric or velour and the reference character L indicates the liningfabric or base material. In accordance with this invention the iinishand lining fabrics are united to provide a plurality of plaits or tubeswith the stitching extending from outside the lining fabric into theinterior of the tubes where the ,stitching is completed. Therefore, inaccordance with this invention the finish fabric is gathered to providea plurality of spaced seam ridges S and the lining fabric is arranged insuperposed relation over the finish fabric with portions L thereofadjacent to and parallel with the seam ridges S at one side thereof. Thelining fabric is spaced from the seam ridges at the other side thereofto provide for the completion of the stitch within the tube T. Thefinish and lining fabrics are united by transverse stitching Y extendingfrom the outside through the portions L of the lining fabric L andthrough the seam ridges S of the finish fabric F, the needles extendinginto the space X where they cooperate with the loopers to complete thestitches. When the upholstery is subsequently applied to the seat thelining fabric L is stretched taut as shown in Figure 34, but inasmuch asno seam ridge has been gathered inthe lining fabric no strain isimparted to the stitching Y. Moreover, the stitching is substantiallyinvisiblel upon the face of the completed upholstery. In this respectthe finished upholstery is substantially the same as that constructed bythe heretofore known manual methods of manufacture. f

In Figure 1 of the drawings the drive mecha,- nism will be explained. Inthis gurefthere is illustrated a motor 10 which drives a belt '11 whichpasses around a pulley 12 mounted on a shaft 13. The pulley 12 may becoupled to the shaft 13 by a clutch mechanism 14 actuated by a handle15. The shaft 13 extends into a reduction gearing housing 16 andextending from this housing and driven ata reduced speed is a main shaft17. A chain 18 `passes around a sprocket on the main shaft 17, thencearound an idler 19 and around a sprocket on the shaft 20 which drivesthe cloth forming mechanism. From here the chain passes around asprocket on the foundation forming mechanism shaft 21. From here thechain passes around a sprocket on the cotton bat feeding mechanism shaft22 and thence around a sprocket on shaft 23 which drives the front rolland then back around the sprocket on the main shaft 17. lA chain 24 isdriven from the shaft 13 and drives the sewing mechanism drive shaft 33through gearing contained in the housing 26 and yet to be referred tomore in detail. The gearing contained in the housing 26 is connected bymeans of a rod 27 to the looper operating shaft 28.

In Figure 10 the gearing for actuating the sewing mechanism andcontained in the housing 26 is shown in detail and somewhat enlarged.The chain 24 passes around a sprocket wheel 29 mounted on a shaft 30journaled in suitable bearings in the housing 26, this shaft beingprovided with a miter gear 31 meshing with a companion miter gear 32 ona drive shaft 33, the latter also being mounted in suitable bearings inthe housing 26. Keyed to shaft 33 is an eccentric 34 with which the endof the rod 27 which actuates the looper shaft, is connected. Thus thelooper shaft is oscillated in timed relation with the sewing mechanismfor purposes which will appear more fully hereinafter.

Extending transversely of the machine are a pair of spaced parallelcompanion sewing head shafts 35 and 36 each of which drives one of thecompanion sewing heads of each sewing mechanism which' as will beobvious comprises a pair of sewing heads. The companion shafts 35 and 36are driven through crank mechanisms which provide for differential orvariable speed of each shaft. That is, the shaft is rotated during aportion of each rotation at a relatively rapid rate and during theremainder of each rotation at a relatively slow rate.

For this purpose the shaft 33 has keyed thereto a pinion 37 which mesheswith a pinion 38 keyed to stub shaft 39 mounted on a suitable stationarypart of the machine. Thus, these shafts 33 and 39 rotate in unison. Theend of shaft 33 has keyed thereto a crank 40 provided with an axial orlongitudinal slot 41 and shaft 39 has keyed thereto a crank 42 providedwith a similar axial or longitudinal slot 43.v The shafts 35 and 36 aremounted eccentrically with respect to shafts 33 and 39 respectively andshaft 35 is provided with a crank 44 provided with a pin or roller 45which works in slot 41 of crank 40. Shaft 36 is provided with a crank 46provided with a roller or pin 47 which works in slot 43 in crank 42.

With this mechanism each of the shafts 35 and 36 is driven through apair of eccentrically arrangedcranks, slidably interconnected.Therefore, when, for instance, shaft 33 is rotated crank 40 isconsequently rotated and during its rotative movement it imparts arotative movement to the corresponding sewing head shaft 35 through theslidable connection 41-45. However, owing to the eccentric relation ofshafts 33 and 35, shaft 35 is rotated at a Variable speed, its rotationbeing relatively rapid when the roller 45 is in the outer end of slot 41and relatively slower when this roller is in the other end of slot 41,or in other words closer or adjacent the axis of rotation of shaft 33.The same or corresponding rotative movement is imparted to shaft 36 butowing to the reversal of the relation of the parts the shaft 36 isrotated rapidly while shaft 35 is being rotated slowly and vice versa.

By reference to Figure 2 it will be noted that there is fragmentarilyillustrated a main conveyor 50 which forms spaced parallel seam ridgesin the finish fabric and presents the same to the sewing mechanism. Thestructure of this main conveyor is illustrated more in detail incopending application Serial No. 462,620. The reference characters 5land 52 indicate cooperating lining or foundation forming members whichform the portions L in the lining'fabric and present this lining fabricin superposed relation with the finish fabric to the sewing mechanism.The construction and operation of this foundation forming mechanism isillustrated and described in copending application, Serial No. 590,275.As Will be observed in Figure 2, the sewing head shafts 35 and 36 extendtransversely of the machine and drive the sewing heads 53 arranged inpairs and mounted on the shafts inspaced longitudinal relationtransversely. of the machine. The constructionand operation of eachsewing head, which will be referred to more in detail hereinafter', issubstantially the same as the sewing heads illustrated and described incopending application, Serial No. 400,317. In vthe former case eachsewing mechanism comprises a pair of coopera ing sewing heads and in thelatter case each sewing mechanism comprises a single sewing head and acooperating looper. In the present construction each sewing mechanismcomprises a, pair of sewing heads arranged so that the needles thereofwork in vertical planes which intersect one another atan angle and adouble looper reciprocating on a horizontal path in a Vertical planewhich is intersected by the vertical plane in whicheach of the needlesworks.

The reference character 54 indicates a transverse frame member to whicha plurality of bracket members 55, one for each looper mechanism, aremounted for adjustment transversely of the machine. For this purposeeach bracket member may be provided with a bolt 56 having a T-shapedhead which Works in aT-shaped slot formed in the frame member 54. Thesebrackets support the looper shaft 28 previously referred to and for eachlooper there is keyed to this shaft 28 a link or arm 58 which isdetachably connected by means 59 to a reciprocating head 60 whichactuates a flexible looper actuating member or shaft 61. This head 60reciprocates in a housing 62 carried by the bracket 55 and the flexibleshaft 6l extends through a looper housing section 63 detachably mountedand a companion looper housing section 64 fixed to a member 65 which isadjustably cormected as at 66-for transverse adjustment to the framemember 54. The members 65 is provided with'bifurcations constitutingforming shoes or members 67 which cooperate with a sewing plate 68 tohold the iinish material F in a position to present the seam ridges tothe sewing mechanism, see particularly Figure 6. f

When the detachable connection 59 between the arm 58 and the head 60 isdisengaged, the head 60 together with the flexible looper shaft 61, thelooper 69 and the spaced guides 70 may be withdrawn longitudinally fromwithin the housing sections 63 and 64. Thus the looper may be repairedor replaced with facility.

As will be most apparent fromFigure 6, the looper housing section 64 inwhich the looper 69 reciprocates is mounted upon the shoe member 67 andextends within the tube or plait T formed by the finish and liningfabrics F and L.f The space X previously referred to is providedv bymeans of a tapered guard 71 fixed to one side of the looper housing 64.

By reference to Figures 14 to 17 inclusive the structure of the'looper69 will be more apparent. It will be noted that the looper is shaped toprovide a pair of opposed looperpoints 72 each of which is provided witha hook portipn 73. The looper is of such a cross-section at the oppositeends thereof as to iit within thelooper housing section 64 forreciprocation therein, the looper being reciprocated as will be obvious,by means of the flexible shaft 61 which is connected thereto at oneendthereof` vas shown most clearly in Figures 114.1and 15. i. `By"reference to Figures 4,6, 7, 8 and 9, theconstruction and arrangement ofthe'parts of the pair of sewing heads of each sewing mechanism will bemore apparent. inasmuch as the construction of the sewing heads has beenfully described in several of the aforesaid copending applications, theconstruction thereof will be but briefly touched upon herein.

For each of the sewing heads 53 mounted on each of the shafts 35 and 36,these shafts are provided With, respectively, driving pinions 74. yEachpinion 74 Yis keyed toits respective shaft so as to rotate therewith butis capable of longitudinal movement thereon. Each pair of sewing heads53 is adjustably mounted and supported by a'transverse frame member 75by means of brackets 76 adjustably connected thereto by means 77. Thepair of sewing heads 53 of each sewing mechanism are arranged at anangle to one another so `that the needles 78 thereof work in verticalplanes which intersect one another at a substantially acute angle. Meansis provided for imparting to each needle a thrusting and retractingmovement and a rocking movement so that the needle will be thrustthroughthe seam ridge and rocked to spread the loop carried thereby `andwithdrawn, the latter ,being in itsretracting movement.

By particular reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9 it 5 will be noted thateach of the sewing heads is driven" by one of the aforesaid pinions 74which meshes with an idler pinion 79 on a stub shaft 80 j ournaled inthe frame 81 of the sewing head. This pinion meshes with a pinion 82 ona stub shaft 83 also mounted on this frame 81. The pinion 82 is keyed tothe shaft 83 and this shaft carries on one of its ends an eccentriccrank disk 84 provided with a crank pin` 85. The needle arm 86 ispivotally mounted as at 90 on a sector shaped slide 88 and the needlearm 86 is rocked about its pivot 90 by means of a needle arm actuatinglink or crank 89 pivotally connected to the crank pin 85 and pivotallyconnected to the needle arm 86 as at 90. Thus upon rotation of theeccentric crank disk 84 the needle arm 86 is rocked about its pivot 87by means of the crank arm 89. This imparts a thrusting and retractingmovement to the needle.

The needle is rocked during its thrustingand retracting movementbyshifting its pivot 90, this pivot being shifted in an arcuate path, thecenter of which arc is substantially the point C which point is in thearcuate path of needle 78 and in the central Vertical plane of the seamridge. This shifting of the pivot 87 is accomplished by means of a link91 which is pivotally connected to the slide 88 through the needle armpivot 87, this link having a portion 92 which embraces the eccentricperiphery of the crank disk 84. Thus upon rotation of the' crank disk84, the link 91 is substantiallylongitudinally reciprocated and impartsan oscillatory shifting movement to the slide 88. This slide 88 ismounted in a guide 93.

By reference to Figure 5 it Will be noted that each of the sewing heads53 is rockably adjustable about its drive shaft 35 or 36 respectivelyindependently of each other. For instance, the sewing head to the rightas viewed in Figure 5 is provided with a pair of upstanding lugs 49which embrace an adjusting screw 95 which in turn is ypivotallyvconnected as at 96 to the bracket 76.

screw at its' free end and-engages the lug 94 at the outside thereof.Thus this unit. may be adjustably rocked about its shaft 35 as will beobvious. The left hand sewing head as viewed in Figure 5 has means forpermitting adjustable rocking movement if desired. To this end thebracket 76 is provided with a bifurcated lug 99 through which rodpasses, this rod being pivotally connected as at 101 to an extension 102formed on the frame of the sewing head 53. The rod 100 carries a head103 against which one end of a spring 104 engages, the other endengaging an internal shoulder on the sleeve 105. This sleeve has the end106 thereof shaped to engage a corresponding surface on the lug 99. Thisconstruction will permit a rocking movement of the head 53 about itsshaft 36 in one direction. In the other direction this is accomplishedby a setscrew 107.

From Figure 6 it will be apparent that the seam ridge S which is firstformed in the finish fabric F by means of the main conveyor 50 ispresented over the sewing plate 68 and by reason of the cooperation ofthe shoes 67 the seam ridge is maintained as the material progressestoward the sewing mechanism so as to properly present each seam ridge tothe sewing mechanism. As was previously pointed out the lining fabric Larranged parallel to the seam ridges S at one side thereof is formed andpresented by the mechanism 51-52 previously briefly referred to.However. as the fabrics are presented to the sewing mechanism afterleaving the foundation or forming means 51-52, means must be providedfor maintaining this relationship of the lining material and tor thispurpose I provide a guide plate member 108, see Figures 3, 4 and 6, thismember having an upstanding nange portion 109 which holds the liningmaterial against and parallel with the seam ridge S at one side thereofand with a base or foot portion 110 which guides the adjacent portion ofthe lining material. This guide plate member 108, as shown in Figure 4,may be conveniently mounted as at lll to the support 112. v

In operation the needles 78 have each imparted thereto a thrusting andretracting movement, one of the needles partaking of its thrustingmovement while the other needle partakes of its retracting movement. Thelooper 69 reciprocates in a horizontal path in a vertical plane acrossthe path of the n eedles in timed relation thereto, the purpose of thelooper being, as will appear more fully hereinafter, to hold the loopformed by each needle until the other needlecompletes its thrustingmovement to take the loop. It will be understood that each needle firstpartakes of a thrusting movement and rocks to open its loop whereuponthis loop is caught up by one ofthe looper points 72 and positioned forengagement by the other needle at the end of its thrusting movement, theloop formed by this second needle being held by the other looper point72 for en-v gagement by the first mentioned needle on its next thrustingmovement.

In Figures 18a and 18h each needle is shown in the position it assumesat the end of its retracting movement, at the end of its forward orthrusting movement, and at two intermediate positions, the cycle ofneedle movement being divided into four increments, and by comparison ofFigures 18a and 18h, the relative positions of the pair of needles canbe determined at each of these points in the cycle, particularly whenconsidered in connection with Figures 19 to 22,

inse-,919

each of which figures indicates in plan View the relative positions ofthe two needles and the looper. v

. As probably most clearly illustrated in Figures 18a and 18h the needle78 is rocked to cause its point to describe a loop, this rockingmovement occurring particularly during the end of the thrusting movementand the beginning of the retracting movement of the needle so that eachneedle may be thrust forward on an arc, the medial line of which extendsover the horizontal plane of the adjacent looper point 72 and then theneedle isA rocked to dip the point thereof downwardly so that this pointis arranged in a horizontal plane below the longitudinal horizontalplane of the looperpoint. This spreads the loop carried by the needleand permits the looper point '72 to pass through the loop so as to holdthis loop for engagement by the other needle. It will be understood thatthe eccentric crank drive connection for each sewing head shaft 35 is soarranged .that the needle '78 is thrust into and through the seam ridgeand withdrawn therefrom relatively rapidly, the speed of the needlevarying and being somewhat slower during the remainder of the movementof the needle so that the increment of time during which the needle isengaged with the fabrics is reduced.

By comparison of Figures 19- to 23 inclusive it will be noted thatneedle 78a is at the end of its thrusting position and at this point isbeing rocked downwardly to spread the loop carried thereby so that thelooper point 72d may pass over the needle and engage the loop formedthereby. The needle '78h is commencing its thrusting movement and willtake the loop from the looper '72a during the end of the thrustingmovement of the needle '781). This position of the needles is shown inheavy black lines in Figures 18a and 18h.

In Figure 20 the needle '78a is practically at the end of its retractingstroke and the loop is shown as carried by the looper point 72a and isbeing engaged by the needle 78h which is near the end yof its thrustingstroke. The looper is now moving in an opposite direction and assists infreeing the loop and depositing it on the needle 78h. This position ofthe needles is shown in solid light lines in Figures 18a and 18h.

In Figure 21 the needle '78h has taken the loop from olf the looper'point '72a and the needle 78h is about at the end of its thrustingmovement and is being rocked downwardly to spread the loop carriedthereby forengagement by the looper point 72b. The needle '78a is atabout the end of its retracting stroke and has again started itsthrusting movement. This position of the needles is shown in heavy dotand dash lines in Figures 18a and 18h.

In Figure 22 the looper point 72b is shown as holding the loop which ittool; from the needle 78h and the needle 78a is shown on its thrustingmovement taking the loop from off the looper point 72b, the loopermoving back again to assist in transferring 'this loop from the looperpoint 72h to the needle'78a. The needle 78h is near the end of itsretracting stroke. This position of the needles is shown in light dotand dash lines in Figures 18a and 18h.

The sewing operation will probably be more apparent by a comparison ofFigures 23 to 30 inclusive. In these gures the thread carried by theneedle 78a is shown in heavy lines and the thread carried'by' the needle78h s'shown in light lines.

rloop which has just panaderov The direction of movement of the needlesand locper is indicated by arrows in each ligure.l

In Figure 23 the'needle '78a is at the end of its thrusting strokeandthe beginning of its retracting stroke-and has been rocked to lowerthe pointbelow the horizontal plane of the path of movement of thelooper point 72a which is partaking of its thrusting movement or inother words, its movement to the leitl- In Figure 24 the looper point72d has taken the loop from the needle Vr78a which is on itsretracting's'trolre and the looper point '72e is partaking of itsretracting movement as the needle 78bis taking the loop from oii thelooper point 72a. In Figure 25 the needle '7819 has already completelytakenthe loop from the loopery vto partake of its reeen rocked'to spread72b may holdthe point '72a and is beginning tracting movement and hasits loop so that the looper point loop of needle 78h;

In Figure 26 the loop of needle '78h is'shown as transferred to thelooperfpoint 72b and the needle 78d is at the end of its thrustingstroke and is taking the loop from the loopen-'point 1.721);

the looper point 72bat this stage being-retracted to assist intransferringthe loop fromithe point 72o'to`the needle 78d.. n

In Figure 27 the loop has been completely transferred from the looperpoint '72b to the needle '78a and this needle has partaken of a vrockingmovement to spread its loop so that the looper. point 72d may hold thesame for engagement bythe needle 78h. The needle 78h is shownas'takingthis loop from the looper point 72d in Figure 28 and as the looper point72a retracts from the loop 'to assist in .transferring the same to theneedle 78h, the needle 78h continues its thrusting movement andsimultaneously partakesof a rocking movement, this position of the partsvbeing illustrated iii-Figure 29. x

In this position shown in Figure29, the looper point 72b is again readyto take and .hold the been spread by the rocking movement of the needle78h and in Figure 30 the needle 'iSd is shown as having already takenthe loop off the lcoper point 72b and as having partalren of its rockingmovementV to spread itsloop which will be taken and held by the looperpoint 72d for engagement by the needle 78h during the end of itsthrusting movement.

The resulting stitch is a double chain stitch shown in Figure 31, thereverse side of the line of stitching being illustrated in Figure 32.

The herein described sewing mechanism provides means for stitching andforming tubular upholstery where the stitches extend from the outside ofthe tubes to the interior thereof where they are completed, the stitchespassing through but a single thickness of the lining or backing materialand through a seam ridge in the iinish or top fabric. Thus the backingmaterial may be stretched taut without imparting any strain to thestitches, this being customary when the upholstery is applied to theseat or back. The invention contemplates a structure wherein the lcoperis not threaded but merely reciprocates in a path which intersects thepath of travel of the needles, the looper acting to hold the loopsformed by each needle for subsequent engagement by the other needle.With such an arrangement the needles may be operated each at a variablespeed so that the period during which the needle is being thrusted andretracted through the fabrics may be lessened or shortened. This permitsof a rapid, smooth and continuous sewing operation at a high speed whichis conducive of'eiiiciency in commercial production. l

' Obvious modifications, changes and re-arrange-y ments of the parts maysuggest themselves to thoseiskilled' in this art and to this-endreservation is made to make such changes as may come within thepurviewof the accompanying claims.

Whatl claim as my invention is:

l. Sewing mechanism including a pair of needles working in longitudinalvertical planes which intersect one another, anda looper working 4in alongitudinalvertical plane which intersects the workingplanes 'oftheneedles at theV point of intersection thereof.

2. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles working in longitudinalvertical planes at an angle to ,one another, each needle having .athrusting and retracting movement which intersects thev working plane'ofthe other needle and a reciprocating looper working in a verticallongitudinal plane which intersects the working planes of the needles atthe point of intersection of lthe needle paths.

3. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles rworking inlongitudinal vertical planes at an angle to onel another, each needlehaving a .thrusting and retracting movement and a rock-p ing movement,and a reciprocating looper working ina vertical longitudinalplane whichintersects the working planes of the needles.

Ll. Sewing mechanism comprisinga pair of needles working in verticallongitudinal planes at an angle to one another, each needle having athrusting and Vretracting movement through a seam, and a rockingmovement about tiallyin the vertical longitudinal plane of the seam, anda .reciprocating looper working in a vertical longitudinal plane whichintersects the working planes of the needles.

5. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles working in verticallongitudinal planes at an angle to one another, each needle having athrusting and retracting movement and a rocking movement prior to thethrusting movement of the other needle, and a reciprocatinglooperworking in a vertical longitudinal plane which intersects theworking planes of the K needles.

6. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles working in paths whichangularly intersect one another, said needles respectively partakingsimultaneously of thrusting and retracting movements, each needle havinga rocking movement at the end of its thrusting movement, and a looperreciprocating in a horizontal path which intersects the paths oimovement of said needles.

'7. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles working in paths whichangularly intersect one another, said needles respectively partakingsimultaneously of thrusting and retracting movements, each needle havinga rockingL movement at the end of its thrusting movement, and a looperreciprocating in a horizontal path which intersects the paths ofmovement of said needles in a horizontal longitudinal plane between theupper and lower limits of the rocking movement of the needles.

8. Sewing mechanism including a pair of needles each reciprocated in anarcuate path about a center which is shifted on an arc struck from apoint in the arcuate path of the needle and a reciprocating looperworking in a longitudinal horizontal plane which substantiallyintersects the normal longitudinal medial line of the arcuatepath of theneedles.

9. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of neea point substandles, meansfor reciprocating each needle to cause the same to axially pass throughthe same longitudinal horizontal plane in the seam, means for rockingthe needles about the point of intersection of said plane with the seamto shift the point thereof from a point above said plane to a pointbelow said plane, and a looper reciprocatingin a horizontal planesubstantially coincident with the plane of the seam through which saidneedles pass.

10. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles working in verticallongitudinal planes at an angle to one another, each needle having avariable speed thrusting and retracting movement and a rocking movement,and a looper working in a path which intersects the working paths of theneedles at the point of intersection of the needle paths.

11. Sewing mechanism comprising a pair of needles working in verticallongitudinal planes which intersect one another, each needle having athrusting and retracting movement, a looper reciprocating in ahorizontal path which intersects the working paths of the needles, eachneedle having a rocking movement to lower its point end substantiallyprior to the commencement of its retracting movement past the point ofintersection of the looper.

12. The combination with means for feeding plies of finish and liningfabrics and forming seam ridges in one fabric and arranging the otherfabric parallel to the seam ridges at one side thereof, of means foruniting the fabrics comprising a pair of needles having thrusting andretracting movements through the parallel and seam ridge portions of thefabrics into the space therebetween, and a double looper reciprocatingwithin said space cooperating with said needles to complete the stitchesWithin the space between said fabrics.

13. The combination with means for feeding plies of finish and liningfabrics and forming seam ridges in one fabric and arranging the otherfabric parallel to the seam ridges at one side thereof, of sewingmechanism for uniting the fabrics including a pair of needles working inangularly intersecting paths, means for imparting a thrusting andretracting movement to each needle to thrust the same through theparallel and seam ridge portions of the fabrics into the spacetherebetween, and a double pointed looper reciprocating in said spaceand cooperating with said needles to complete the stitches within thespace between said fabrics.

14. The combination with means for feeding plies of finish and liningfabrics and forming seam ridges in one fabric and arranging the otherfabric parallel to the seam ridges at one side thereof, of sewingmechanism for uniting the fabrics including a pair of needles working inangularly intersecting paths, means for imparting a thrusting andretracting movement to each needle to thrust the same through theparallel and seam ridge portions of the fabrics into the spacetherebetween, anda double pointed looper reciprocating within said spaceand cooperating with said needles to hold the loop of one needle forengagement by the other needle whereby to complete said stitches withinthe space between said fabrics.

15. The combination with means for gathering finish fabricl to formspaced seam ridges and arranging aV lining fabric with portions thereofparallel to the seam ridges to form tubes therebetween, of sewingmechanism including a pair of needles, means for thrusting andretracting said needles through the parallel and seam ridge portions ofsaid fabrics in paths which intersect one another Within said tubes, anda double pointed looper reciprocating within said tube for alternatelyholding the loop of each needle for engagement by the other needle.

16. The combination with means for gathering a finish fabric to formspaced seam ridges and arranging a lining fabric with portions thereofparallel to the seam ridges to form tubes therebetween, of sewingmechanism including a pair of needles, means for thrusting andretracting said needles through the parallel and seam ridge portions ofsaid fabrics in paths which intersect one another within said tubes,means for actuating said needles each at a variable speed, and a doublepointed looper reciprocating within said tube for alternately holdingthe loop of each needle for engagement by the other needle.

BYRON F. EVERI'I'T.

